Impact marking garment

Abstract

A method and apparatus for use in facilitating force-on-force (FOF) training. Specifically, an impact marking vest (IMV) for use in registering a ballistic impact event upon a three-dimensional target surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An impact marking garment comprising:
 a garment comprising:
 at least one hole adapted for insertion of a body part of a human wearer; 
 an inner surface adapted to face toward a human wearer; and 
 an outer surface opposite the inner surface; and 
 
 an impact marking surface coupled to and covering at least a portion of the garment comprising:
 a substrate layer coupled to and covering at least a portion of the outer surface, wherein the substrate layer comprises a first color; and 
 a coating layer disposed on the substrate layer, wherein the substrate layer comprises a second color different from the first color and covering at least a portion of the substrate layer, wherein said coating layer is configured to flake away at a point of ballistic impact. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The impact marking garment of  claim 1  wherein
 said substrate is bonded to said outer surface with an adhesive. 
 
     
     
       3. The impact marking garment of  claim 2  wherein
 said adhesive is a pressure-sensitive adhesive. 
 
     
     
       4. The impact marking garment of Clam  2  wherein said adhesive is on a side of said substrate layer opposite said coating layer. 
     
     
       5. The impact marking garment of  claim 1  wherein said substrate is coupled to said outer surface with a hook and loop fastener. 
     
     
       6. The impact marking garment of  claim 1  wherein said coating layer covers all of said substrate layer. 
     
     
       7. The impact marking garment of  claim 1  wherein said garment is a ballistic vest. 
     
     
       8. The impact marking garment of  claim 1  wherein said coating layer is configured to flake away a point of ballistic impact exposing the substrate layer and said second color. 
     
     
       9. The impact marking garment of  claim 1  wherein said impact marking surface is removable from said garment. 
     
     
       10. An impact marking surface comprising a substrate layer coupled to and covering at least a portion of the outer surface, wherein the substrate layer comprises a first color; and a coating layer disposed on the substrate layer, wherein the substrate layer comprises a second color different from the first color and covering at least a portion of the substrate layer, wherein said coating layer is configured to flake away at a point of ballistic impact, a method comprising:
 identifying an area of said coating layer that has flaked away as a result of ballistic impact; 
 applying a patch of said coating layer to said area identified. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10  wherein said applying comprises applying an adhesive backed patch by pressing said adhesive backed patch onto said area. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10  wherein said method comprises coupling said substrate to a garment. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10  wherein said method comprises coupling said substrate to a garment by bonding said substrate to a garment with an adhesive. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 10  wherein said method comprises coupling said substrate to a garment by bonding said substrate to a garment with a pressure-sensitive adhesive. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 10  wherein said method comprises removing said coating layer at said area by flaking away at said point of ballistic impact. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15  wherein said method comprises impacting said point of ballistic impact with a plastic projectile. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 10  wherein said method comprises applying said patch to said coating layer by bonding a circular patch to said coating layer. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 10  wherein said method comprises applying said path where said patch includes:
 a patch substrate layer; and 
 a patch coating layer. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 10  wherein said method comprises applying said patch where said patch includes:
 a patch substrate layer, wherein said patch substrate layer comprises said first color; and 
 a patch coating layer, wherein said patch coating layer comprises said second color. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19  wherein said method comprises removing said patch substrate layer at said area of by flaking away at said point of ballistic impact.